T-7 | |
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T-7s in flight | |
Role | Primary/Basic Trainer |
National origin | Japan |
Manufacturer | Fuji Heavy Industries |
Introduction | 2002 |
Status | Active |
Primary user | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
Produced | 2002-present |
Number built | 49 |
Developed from | Fuji T-3 |
The Fuji T-7 (previously T-3 Kai) is a Japanese primary trainer aircraft built by Fuji Heavy Industries for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. A development of Fuji's earlier T-3 trainer, it is a single-engined monoplane powered by a turboprop engine.
Design and development
[edit]The Fuji T-7 was developed to meet a requirement of Japan's Air Self Defence Force for a primary or basic trainer to replace the Fuji T-3. The resultant aircraft was a modified version of the T-3, (itself descended via the Fuji KM-2 from the Beech T-34) and shared the single-engined low-winged monoplane layout of the T-3, but replaced the Lycoming piston engine with an Allison 250 turboprop engine.
The T-7 was selected in preference to the Pilatus PC-7 in 1998,[1] but this decision was cancelled and the competition restarted after a corruption scandal arose, with several managers from Fuji being arrested for bribing an official in Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.[2] Fuji re-entered the T-7 (then known as the T-3 Kai) and again won the restarted competition in September 2000.
Operational history
[edit]The first production aircraft was handed over to the JASDF in September 2002.[3]
Operators
[edit]- Japan Air Self-Defense Force
- Air Training Command:
- Air Development and Test Command
Specifications (T-7)
[edit]Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2003-04[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 8.59 m (28 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 10.04 m (32 ft 11 in)
- Height: 2.96 m (9 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 16.5 m2 (178 sq ft)
- Airfoil: root: NACA 23016.5; tip: NACA 23012
- Max takeoff weight: 1,585 kg (3,494 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce 250-B17F turboprop engine, 336 kW (451 hp)
- Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller, 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in) diameter
Performance
- Cruise speed: 298 km/h (185 mph, 161 kn) at 915 m (3,002 ft)
- Stall speed: 104 km/h (65 mph, 56 kn) flaps and gear down
- Wing loading: 96.1 kg/m2 (19.7 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.2114 kW/kg (0.1286 hp/lb)
- Take-off distance to 15 m (49 ft): 608 m (1,995 ft)
- Landing distance from 15 m (49 ft): 566 m (1,857 ft)
Avionics
- VHF radio
- UHF radio
- Transponder
- ICS
- TacAN
See also
[edit]Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Pilatus PC-9
- Beechcraft T-6 Texan II
- KAI KT-1 Woongbi
- PZL-130 Orlik
- Embraer EMB 312 Tucano
- HAL HTT-40
References
[edit]Bibliography
[edit]- Jeziorski, Andrzej. "T-3 replacement battle re-opens". Flight International, 28 March – 3 April 2000, p. 20.
- Mollet, Andrew. "Japan's T-7 decision saves Fuji's day". Flight International, 9–15 September 1998, p. 31.
- Ripley, Tim. "Military Aircraft Directory". Flight International, 25–31 May 2004, p. 38–73.
Further reading
[edit]- Sobie, Brendan. "Japan's pilots to start T-7 training early next year". Flight International, 12 August 2003.